Exploring Spirituality, Sharing Experiences, Processing Outloud

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Is Eckhart Tolle a Christian?

I had to laugh immediately after I typed that question on my phone. I found myself doing this search after my wife made fun of me for only reading Christian authors. In typical fashion, I jumped to the defensive and said, “Ha! Jokes on you, because Eckhart Tolle isn’t a Christian!” She then said, “He’s not?” That’s when I realized I didn’t really know and should look this up if I was to give her the “correct” answer, one that would also give me “street cred” because it would prove that I do actually read from a more diverse author pool than those who identify as Christian.

This pursuit felt important, so I grabbed my phone and turned to google. Then 10 seconds later, I laughed out loud and put my phone away. I then closed my eyes and said out loud, “Hello ego.”

Whether or not Tolle claimed the label “Christian” felt super important that night. It felt important, because I wanted to earn that “street cred”, but also because I felt a sudden need to know what “camp” this writing was coming out of. I suddenly felt as if I needed to know so I could pass judgment and decide whether or not I “accepted” his teachings. This all felt important, until I realized what was happening–that my ego had once again jumped into the driver’s seat.

Here are some of Tolle’s words that caused me to laugh it off rather than totally give in to those feelings:

The quicker you are in attaching verbal or mental labels to things, people, or situations, the more shallow and lifeless your reality becomes, and the more deadened you become to reality, the miracle of life that continuously unfolds within and around you.

I don’t know about you, but I am tired of being deadened to reality and the miracle that it truly is. So here’s to authentically experiencing things, people, and situations, rather than trying to label, judge, and compartmentalize.